Depakote in HIV+, often presenting in depression

Neurology. 2006 Mar 28;66(6):919-21.

Valproic acid adjunctive therapy for HIV-associated cognitive impairment: a first report.
Schifitto G, Peterson DR, Zhong J, Ni H, Cruttenden K, Gaugh M, Gendelman HE, Boska M, Gelbard H.
Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.

In vitro and animal model data demonstrate that valproic acid (VPA) can ameliorate HIV-associated neurotoxicity. The authors conducted a pilot 10-week placebo-controlled study of VPA 250 mg twice daily in 22 HIV-infected individuals with (n = 16) and without (n = 6) cognitive impairment. VPA was safe and well tolerated, with trends toward improved neuropsychological performance and brain metabolism in the impaired subjects.
PMID: 16510768 [PubMed - indexed ]